Essay exploring the diverse ways in which the Catholic church in Providence, Rhode Island served its predominantly immigrant, working-class parishioners as a public space from which to express political opinion, and as a mouthpiece for the assertion of various civil rights. The church as meeting space, often standing in for other American means of organization, education, or public communication. "[T]he centrality of the Catholic Church in working-class public life..." (151). An attempt at a new articulation of the place of religion in 20th century American working-class history. Focuses on Providence's Irish, Italian, and French Canadian immigrant Catholics.
